Two experiments were carried out to investigate
the effect of different dietary levels of date seeds
meal (DSM) on the performance of local Dandarawi
laying hens and growing cockerels. One hundred
twenty, 26 week old hens were distributed into four
groups in the first experiment (30 birds for each
treatment, 3 replicates each) and 240, eight weeks
old growing cockerels were also distributed into
four equal groups in the second experiment (60
birds for each treatment, 3 replicates each). Four
levels of DSM (0, 10, 20, and 30%) were used.
Results from the first experiment indicated that
replacing 20% of diet with DSM had no significant
(P<0.05) effect on egg mass, egg production, feed
efficiency and survivability. Using DSM at levels of
20 and 30% led to a significant increase in albumen
weight and to a significant reduction in yolk, shell
percentage, yolk index and shell thickness. Results
from the second experiment revealed that there
Assiut Vet. Med. J. Vol. 54 No. 117 April 2008
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was a significant (P<0.05) reduction in weight gain
and feed intake and a significant improvement in
feed efficiency when DSM was included at levels of
20 and 30% of the growing cockerels diet. Replacing
30% of corn with DSM significantly increased in
breast percentage and gizzard weight. However,
dressing and fat pad percentages were significantly
decreased as DSM increased in the diet.